Meet Hayat.

Hayat is taking part in the Engineering Pathway Industry Cadetship (EPIC) program for refugee and asylum seeker engineers.

She, and her husband came to Australia from Syria in 2016, looking for a safe and stable environment to live so that her children could continue their studies and she could find a job in engineering..

Hayat has worked as an engineer in Syria for 20 years. She holds a Master’s in Civil Engineering from Damascus University where she also lectured in Foundation and Soil Mechanics.

The EPIC program is designed to help those with international qualifications get recognition for their existing skills, knowledge, and experience.

“I learned about the EPIC program from the Jesuit Social Services. It is the best program for me because it includes work and study for one year.”

The support she receives also helps her to overcome challenges common to new Australians, where language and culture are different from where they grew up.

“Australia is a country with all the cultures of the world in one place.”

Melissa McKenzie, Employment Pathways Team Lead and EPIC Program Coordinator says,

“Hayat joined us in January and is working within the Department of Transport and Planning’s Level Crossing Removal Project Team upskilling her engineering skills and qualifications to meet Australian standards. She has been a wonderful addition to our wider Graduate Program.”

With perseverance and the support of her family, Hayat is determined to achieve her dreams. Her advice for anyone starting or restarting a career in engineering is to “always put your goal in front of you, focus on it and you will be able to achieve it.”